Walmart joins U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol for sustainable sourcing
Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ: WMT) has joined the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, a voluntary sustainability program for cotton growers and traceability platform, according to an announcement from the organization.
The membership allows Walmart to access aggregated data on sustainability practices from U.S. cotton growers and track cotton movement through its supply chain. The retailer aims to source more sustainable cotton as part of broader environmental goals to manage, protect or restore at least 50 million acres of land and 1 million square miles of ocean by 2030.
"At Walmart, we are committed to providing our customers with quality products that are not only affordable but also produced in a way that is responsible and sustainable," said Jerome Del Porto, Head of Corporate Sustainability at Walmart. "Joining the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is another step in our journey to continue driving meaningful change within our own supply chain and the industry at large."
The Trust Protocol, established in 2020, collects field-level data across six sustainability metrics including land use, soil health, water management, greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, and fiber quality. The data is verified by an independent third party. Other program members include Amazon, Macy's Inc., Levi's, and URBN.
Gary Adams, President of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, said the organization welcomes Walmart's membership and expects it to advance sustainable cotton sourcing practices.
Walmart reported fiscal year 2026 revenue of $713 billion and employs approximately 2.1 million associates worldwide. The company serves approximately 280 million customers weekly across more than 10,900 stores and eCommerce websites in 19 countries.
